Improvement in track-clearers for railroads



2 Sheets-Shem; 1

V, M. J. ADAMS. TRACK CLEANER FOR BAILROADS.

No. 41,468. Patented Feb. 9, 1864.

win w n-- 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

M. J (ADAMS. TRACK CLEANER FOR RAILROADS.

Patented Feb. 9, 1864.

79% @Zza ma Noam PETERS ca, wHoTuumo, WASHINGTON. u. c,

U ITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

MICHAEL J. ADAMS, or BEDFORD, PENNSYLVANIA;

IMPROVEMENT IN TRACK-CLEARERS FOR'RAlLROADSi;

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 41,468, dated February 9, 1864. a

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MICHAEL J. ADAMS, of Bedford, in the county of Bedford and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful machine for clearing snow obstructions of railroad-tracks, called a combined snow plow and excavator for single and double tracks; and I do hereby declare that the following is a clear and'exact description of the construction and operation of the same, ref erence being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of plow; Fig. 2, a perspective view of excavator with expeller detached; Fig. 3, expeller; Fig. 4, cross-sectionthrough line 00 w,Fig. 2, showing unloader;'Fig. 5, longitudinal vertical'section showing excavator and tender, either loaded or unloaded; Fig. 6, the same show.- ing the same when unloading.

A is the receiver; B, expeller; 0, body of plow and excavator; D, unloadcr; E, hinges;

E, grooves in hinges; G, crank; H, floor of excavator; I, chain and lugs; K, knives; L, side boards; N, tender; 0, staple.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

The length, breadth, and height to suit circumstances. It is divided into two parts in front, called receiver and expeller. The receiver commences at point M and ends at beginning of expeller B. It is hollowed out in the center from end to end, to secure the snow on for the expeller or receiver to bring it to the proper elevation for expulsion or receivin g. v

The expeller B is raised in the center-for single track, to throw the snow on both sides at once. It is raised on the outside for double track, to throw thesnow .on one side,.-' ,It can also be used for single track. It commences ,wherereceivcr ends and finis'hesTat' top. It is part receiver and part expeller, and made removable in ten minutes,.and'when removed converts the machine into an excavator onthe spot, ready to remove obstructions too heavy for the plow, such as heavy drifts and gorged through cuts. .VVhen replaced, it is again ready for clearing track again, as plow, Fig. The excavator is the part receiver, which is hollowed out in the center from point of slope to edge of floor H, wherethe snow enters,

supported on each side by side boards, L, and attached is a tender N', or tender to receive the snow, which is forced on by the engine driving them into the snow drift ortgorge. The floors of the excavator H and tender are loose, to slide into grooves F, which are attached to the side boards on each side to throw the snow on one or both sides .at thesame moment. Underneath the floor is a frame, D, shaped like an isosceles triangle, with its apex cut, called an unloader, its sides of requisite slope and furnished with rollers. In its'center of base, which is its axle, is attached alever at right angles, P; near its volves the unloaderone-fourth of a circle to a right-angle positionwith the track, which raises the floors to the slope of the unloader,

Attached tothe staple O is a rope, which, by pulling, brings back the unloader to its horizontal position, the 'side boards and floors assuming their normaljposition. At each end of its axle,which' projects outside, is fastened a cranky (S -{which revolves with unloader, thereby putting up and letting down the side boards in loading and unloading, its position being vertical when the unloader is horizon tal,1which positionholds the side boards up.

When the unloader is vertical, its position is horizontal, which allows the side boards to drop down to unload. The tender or tenders are furnished with the same as excavatornamely, side boards, ufiloader, floor, chain, cranks, &c. They are loaded and unloaded at the time with excavator merely by aid of the connecting chain or rope. The loading is done by placing the excavator and tenders in front of the engine and driving them into the drift or gorge, which, with the aid of two rims, will cut its own width and slide in from tender to tender; the floor of the excavator a little higher than the next tender, and so 011 in suo-.

cession.

When loaded, the engine backs out, draw- .=.ing them along, and proceeds to the place of deposit, where the choice of either side can be had by fastening the front of excavator, which is furnished with a lug and chain, I, to track. .The engine is unhitched and retires three or 'foi r feet, first pulling the unloading-chain,

,wmehelevates the floors to their proper anapex a staple, 0. Attached to the lever is a rope, which, when pulled by the engine, re-'- necessarily =compelling the snow to fall otf.j

gles to expel the snow. It oan be unloadedwithout fastening to track by merely wind ing up the three or four feet of chain in frontof engine. The loading and unloading can be done without the aid of a man but the engineer, who need not leave his place at the e11 zine. I

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The application of this combined snow plow and excavator to snow'obstructio'ns on railroads for their removal, using for that purpose the aforesaid'combined snow-plow and excavator, or any other substantially thevsame and which will produce the same effect.

MICHAEL J. ADAMS.

Attest:

- J. H. PHILLIPS,

GEO. O LAMBRIGHT. 

